Canine Therapy: Giving a Dog and Your Teen a Second Chance at Life
by Sue Scheff on Nov 03, 2010
Rocko, a Neapolitan Mastiff, was brutally abused by his owners that abandoned him. Abandoning him is probably the best gift they gave him.
According to the St. Augustine Record, the abuse that Rocko endured is as follows:
- They cut off his ears with a pair of scissors.
- They broke the top two vertebrae of his spine.
- They made him stand in a pen full of filth, which gave his claws an incurable fungal infection.
- And to top it off, they left him outside in that pen while they moved to Pennsylvania.
Despite that savage treatment, the 136-pound dog loves everyone he meets and his foster mother, Julie Kingsley of the no-kill rescue group Wags & Whiskers, says Rocko loves people.
Elliot Mintzer of St. Augustine, a pilot for HelpFourPaws, an animal transport organization, said Monday that he has organized a fund to help pay Rocko’s medical bills.
In addition to Rocko’s horrid injuries, he also has two eye ailments – one a disease named “cherry eyes” and the other a large growth on his upper eyelids that causes dry eye. Rocko’s already squinting and can barely see. If not treated for both conditions, he could go blind.
Dr. Gary Shelton, of Shelton Veterinarian Clinic, who specializes in eyes and bones and has offices in Elkton and Interlachen, has said he’ll do Rocko’s eye surgery at cost, which is about $500, Elliot Mintzer said. If the community raises $250, Elliot Mintzer will match that.
Can you help? Pay Pal can be used donations. Donors can also mail a check to HelpFourPaws office at 303-B Anastasia Blvd., Suite 160, St. Augustine 32080. For more information call (904) 333-8949.
Rocko also needs a loving home. Do you have a teenager that needs a boost of self-esteem? Did you know that canine therapy is extremely beneficial to teens that are struggling with depression, stress or simply have low or no self-worth. Being able to care for a pet and especially helping them to heal back to good health can be gratifying for the caretaker as well as for the patient (dog).
This may be a perfect opportunity to build your teen’s confidence and give a loving pet a good and safe home.
Click here to see more pictures of Rocko.
HelpFourPaws is sponsoring its first annual Charity Golf Event on Sunday, November 7th, at Royal St. Augustine Golf Club with its Day of Adoption. The Golf Club’s golf tournament will kick off at 8:30 a.m., the putting contest, called “Putts for Paws,” starts at 11 a.m. Tickets for the putting contest are $5.
Tags: Animal Therapy, Canine Therapy, Community Service, Sue Scheff, Teen Issues
Sue Scheff: Help Support Fresh Air Fund – Giving Needy Children a Summer of Fun
by Sue Scheff on Jun 23, 2010
As a guest post, Fresh Air Fund has asked me to help them promote their need for Host Families. The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give them a Fresh Air experience that can change lives.
Your gift of $24 becomes $48, good for TWO round-trip bus tickets from NYC to camp.
Make a gift before June 30th – and two inner-city childrens lives will be changed forever!
The Countdown to Summer 2010 is on and The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families. If you or someone you know is able to host, please sign up now.
In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund‘s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes FOR up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.
The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.
More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.
Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.
“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”
Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child.It should be Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host for up to two weeks. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!
Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!
Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.
The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.
Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.
Learn more – visit http://freshairfundhost.com/ - Watch the video below.
What do Fresh Air children enjoy? Help give them a gift of summer fun.
- Playing in the backyard
- Laughing in the sunshine
- Catching fireflies
- Riding bicycles
- Learning to swim
- Running barefoot through the grass
- Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
- Building sandcastles
- Making new friends
- Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city
Tags: Community Service, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: Inspiring our Kids and Teens
by Sue Scheff on May 02, 2010
With all the negative outside influences that surround our children, it is important today that parents encourage their kids and find out what their passion is and build on it. Children’s Author and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Kara Tamanini, recently wrote an excellent article just on this topic.
How Do We Bring The Best Out in Our Kids
Parents often wonder how to bring out the best in their children in order to produce the best possible child that they can. While consistent parenting, discipline, and communication are all keys to this, here are a few tips on bringing out the best possible child that you can.
1.) Have regular family meetings, dinners, or family game night with your child/children. We have all seen the commercials on T.V. about the importance of family dinners or having a family game night. Well folks, this time that we spend with our kids is really that important. Here is your chance to show an interest in what your child is doing and to ask questions about what is going on in their life. Ask about their friends and what is going on at school. By doing so, parents can often avoid their child later on turning into the quiet; withdrawn or surly teenager that tells their parents virtually NOTHING about what is going on in their life. This usually is not a good thing for parents or the teen!!
2.) Monitor the television shows that your child is watching. Reduce the amount of T.V. and watch for shows that have alot of violent content in them. Set a curfew for your child and always know where and with whom your child currently is. Trouble usually occurs when parents do not know where their child is and with whom.
3.) If you see that your child is struggling with self-control or anger problems, then by all means enroll them in a class on anger management, social skills, or how to make friends. These groups are usually available through schools, churches, or the local YMCA. Anger that is left untreated children, almost always becomes a bigger problem later on.
4.) Try to do things together with your child that your child enjoys. Praise your child as often as possible and by all means encourage your child to talk about their feelings. Ask them how their day went at school. Communication on your child’s developmental level goes a very long way with letting your child know that you take an interest in them. (even when your child tells you that they did nothing all day long at school!)
5.) If you find out that your child is having problems at school in getting along with other kids or in bullying others, then by all means talk to your child and your child’s teacher about their behaviors. Communication and dealing with issues as they come up is the key in avoiding problems later on down the road. And of course, implement reasonable and age-appropriate consequences for behavior as discipline problems come up.
Visit Kid Awareness Series for more fantastic and educational articles.
Tags: Parenting, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: School Break – What are your teens doing?
by Sue Scheff on Dec 18, 2009
School will be out for the holidays and there will be a lot of idle time for teens. Do you know have plans for them? At this time of the year, as well as at spring break, I hear from many parents that are struggling with their good teens making not so good choices. By the time they call Parents’ Universal Resource Experts, it has usually escalated to a decision many parents don’t want to make. Should they consider a residential therapy school?
Before it reaches the point of having to make a call for help, let’s look at some options you can encourage your teens to do to keep constructively busy during their holiday time-off. Hanging out is not always a bad thing, however it can be when it leads to negative activity and behavior.
Having this time-out can is also an opportunity to do things as a family. Spending more time together helps open up the lines of communication.
1. Let’s see what movies are playing. The kids love to hang at theaters, but try to find movies you all can see and make it a family event! Right now there are many movies playing that the entire family can enjoy such as Blind Side, Nine, Meet the Morgan’s, Invictus (for teens and parents) and of course the upcoming blockbuster – Avartar. Remember, students can get discount tickets at most theaters. The most important part of this activity is you are doing it together!
2. Volunteering at a local Nursing Home, Humane Society, Soup Kitchen etc. This is a fantastic way to help your teens feel needed and give back. Take the initiative and visit these places and get your teen excited about giving back.
3. Reach out to neighbors that may need your help. Encourage your teens to meet the neighbors, wash cars, mow the lawn (we are in Florida), shovel snow (for those Northerners), walk their dogs or even just spend some time with them. Maybe they need help wrapping gifts. It is a perfect time to reach out and give from your heart.
4. Do you know how many teens actually love culinary arts? Yes, encourage your teen to find new recipes and learn to cook dinner for the family. This can also be a family affair. Take the challenge with new recipes. Who knows, you may have the next Top Chef in your home!
For more ideas including T.A.L.K. >>>>> CLICK HERE
Also on Examiner.
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Sue Scheff, Teen Chores, teens volunteering
Sue Scheff: Promoting Community Education
by Sue Scheff on Aug 09, 2009
One of the most important parts of any community is the local school system, and it’s easy for concerned parents and good citizens to become intimately involved in some important aspects of school decisions.
Becoming involved with local schools helps decide the direction of the youth in your community, which is of the upmost importance for the success of any community system.
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Sue Scheff, Teen Community Service, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Mandela Day – Bringing People Together – Inspiring Your Kids
by Sue Scheff on Jul 08, 2009
I was asked to share this wonderful, inspiring and educational event with readers. Promoting peace and helping each other through difficult times is a responsibility we must teach our children. Our kids learn by example, take the time to be part of making our world a better place.
Nelson Mandela has spent 67 years making the world a better place. Now it’s your turn to make a difference in your communities and around the world. As parents, you readers have the chance to start showing your children early just how important their mark can make on the world. Global movement for positive change begins with small actions, actions which you can help encourage through your voice online and instill in your kids!
Mandela Day is aimed at bringing together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation, celebrating the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an imprint. But boy do we still have work to do! www.MandelaDay.com was created to inspire people to embrace Mr. Mandela’s values and make an imprint through service to their communities. Service could mean any number of community volunteer activities, such as feeding the homeless, being a big brother/big sister or visiting someone who is sick. Today, I ask if you would be interested in making your mark by encouraging your readers to get out there and start changing the world!!
Mandela Day 2009 will conclude with a very special concert on July 18th in New York City at Radio City Music Hall hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. Inspirational performances of the night will include Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper and so many more wonderful supporters of this great initiative.
Lastly, I encourage readers to watch and share this moving video to check out some more familiar faces already making their impact. You even have the ability to cut yourselves into the film and choose celebs to make your own fun, unique version! Simply sign up, log in, and start creating! http://mandeladay.com/participate/inyourhands/
Your work does not end with one day. The mission of Mandela Day is to encourage people to get involved all year round. For more information, please contact 212-704-9134 or mminkalis@westglen.com.
Tags: Parenting, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Teens, Sue Scheff
Sue Scheff: Teen Entreprenuers and Summer Volunteering
by Sue Scheff on May 16, 2009
With today’s economy teens and kids are watching or hearing about many of their families having to cut back and become more aware of what they are spending. As parents we need to encourage our kids to look at their future – build a foundation – nurture a dream. With today’s technology the ideas are always expanding. Check out this article and get your kids started in a positive direction!
Source: Connect with Kids
“I’m a gigantic believer in the value of an entrepreneurial experience- if there’s any time in someone’s life when they ought to take a risk it’s when they are not saddled with an enormous number of financial and family responsibilities.”
– Andrea Hershatter, Ph.D., M.B.A.
When today’s teens talk about what they want to be when they grow up … the answer that is becoming more common than ever is: my own boss.
Like a lot of college freshmen, Sean Belnick has a job on the side. He works for a company that brings in more than 20-million dollars a year. It’s his company… he owns it.
“We started off with a couple of orders a day and it just mushroomed from there,” he says.
A huge warehouse now stocks the office chairs he sells online. But it all started in his bedroom, when he was 15 years old.
“I always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” he says.
More teens than ever are tapping into their entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, according to Junior Achievement Worldwide, interest in entrepreneurship camps is up 30 percent.
What’s more, experts say, kids have a huge advantage as entrepreneurs because they know the web and know network sites like Facebook and Myspace.
“They intuitively understand the power and potential of using web based services for distribution, for marketing, for outreach… for connections,” says Andrea Herchatter with Emory University, “And they’re incredible networkers who have a very large number of human resources in terms of their peers at their disposal.”
“That’s the whole thing with the internet really,” says Belnick, “Anyone can put a web site up. And it looks professional. But there’s nothing saying that there’s a 20-year-old kid behind it. Which is the biggest thing about the internet, you know, you can create your own credibility.”
Experts say parents should encourage entrepreneurship in their kids… whether it’s moving lawns or an online business.
They may not make millions… but they will learn a lot about managing a business and turning a profit.
“I think they learn, they grow, they mature. If they are not enriched financially then at least they are enriched in terms of life experiences that will serve them forever,” says Herchatter.
Tips for Parents
With the employment rate down for teens, many are opting for volunteer positions instead of paid positions. And despite many adults being convinced of a decline in the values and morals of today’s young people, recent surveys show that many teens are giving of their time to work for causes in which they believe and to help those who are less fortunate. Teens find volunteer opportunities through religious organizations, school-based programs and community agencies.
Teens listed several reasons for volunteering:
- Compassion for people in need
- Feeling they can do something for a cause in which they believe
- A belief that if they help others, others will help them
In addition, some teens volunteer their time in occupational fields in which they are interested. In addition to being helpful, they are able to use their experiences in deciding on future career choices.
Teens reported benefiting from their volunteer experiences in many ways, including:
- Learning to respect others.
- Learning to be helpful and kind.
- Learning to understand people who are different from them.
- Developing leadership skills.
- Becoming more patient.
- Gaining a better understanding of good citizenship.
- Exploring or learning about career options.
- Developing new career goals.
Children learn from their parents. The survey showed teens that reported having positive role models were nearly twice as likely to volunteer as those who did not. Encourage your child to volunteer by setting an example. Youth Service America provides additional ways to increase teen volunteerism:
- Ask them to volunteer.
- Encourage youth to get involved at an early age. Volunteering when young creates lifelong adult volunteers.
- Encourage children and young adults to participate in community groups, faith-based organizations, student government and school projects.
- Encourage a positive self-image so young people are able to help others and contribute to their communities.
- Be a mentor in your community.
- Provide young people with opportunities to take courses that include and even require community service.
References
- The Higher Education Research Institute
- The Independent Sector
- Youth Service America
Sue Scheff: Top Ten Youth Volunteers – Receive Awards
by Sue Scheff on May 15, 2009
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. For their extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism, ten middle and high school students from across the country were named America’s top ten youth volunteers for 2009 in a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, capping the 14th year of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Tags: Community Service, Parenting, Parenting Teens, Prudential Spirit Awards, Sue Scheff, Teen Community Service, teens volunteering
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